4 killed, 2 hurt in tricycle-van smash up

FOUR persons were killed and three others were seriously injured when a motorized tricycle and a Toyota Hi-Ace van figured in a head-on collision along the Jose de Venecia Expressway Extension in Barangay Lucao, Dagupan City late afternoon on Sunday, February 24.

The fatalities were the tricycle driver, Michael Reyes, 32, of Lucao, Dagupan, who was declared dead on the spot and his passengers Karen Viliran, 28; and her son Wendy de Leon, Jr., 5, who were both declared dead on arrival at Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan.

Another daughter of Villiran, Felecia Karel De Leon, 7, also died Monday morning.

Being treated of serious
injuries at R1MC are Wendel De Leon, 37, a car washer helper and
husband of Karen, a resident of Carael, Dagupan City and their one-year
old baby Hanifa De Leon.

The police and staff of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (CDRRMC) rushed the victims to R1MC.

The driver of Toyota Hi-Ace van, with license plate number ZE 4669, Romeo
Bugaoan, 53, of Malanay, Sta. Barbara, was unscathed. The van was registered
under the name of Universal Aquarius, Inc.

An updated police report
stated that both vehicles were travelling in opposite direction when the Toyota
Hi-Ace van heading to the south direction and was overtaking another
vehicle when it hit the tricycle bearing the De Leon family.

The police earlier reported that it was the motorized tricycle that overtook
another vehicle in front and collided with the van.

As a result of the impact of the collision, the tricycle was crushed while the van,
according to the police, suffered a dent on its bumper, its wind shield broken and
left door wrecked.

Bugaoan is now facing a case of recklessly imprudence resulting in multiple
homicide and seriously physical injuries.

Bugaoan was reportedly once a driver/bodyguard of former Mayor Benjamin Lim. (Leonardo
Micua with reports from Jojo Rinoza)